An Analysis of the Characteristics of Regional Development Management in Iran during the Periods before and After the Islamic Revolution (1907 to 2015)

According to most of regional researchers’ agreement, regional development policies in Iran have been associated with problems since last decades that in some cases have led to instability of regional development. In explaining this, the absence of favorable and efficient management of regional development is emphasized. This paper aims to analyze the situation of regional development management in both periods before and after the Islamic Revolution of Iran. This article is reviewing and descriptive from the scope of methodology, and uses the documentary method for assessing situation of regional development management. The results suggest: Firstly, the structure of regional development management was highly authoritarian, state-centered, non-participatory and focused on economic growth and was dependent on oil revenues and failed to bring about balanced development of regions before the Islamic Revolution. Secondly, despite generating the political and administrative structures and institutions of regional development, the available managerial pattern does not respond regional needs yet after the Islamic Revolution. Therefore, the modification of the regional development management is urgent. Finally, some proposals are presented to reform the favorable existing system of regional development management.